The silvery pigeon, also known as the grey wood-pigeon, is found in Indonesia and Malaysia and was thought to be extinct until wild populations were discovered in 2008 near Masokut Island. Although they resemble the pied imperial pigeon from afar, their most distinguishing characteristics are their sloping foreheads, dark red or purple eye-wattles, and bluish-grey feet. The species was first documented during the late 19th and early 20th century on islands west of Sumatra, Indonesia and was later found in other places such as the Riau and Karimata Islands.

Currently, the silvery pigeon is categorized as critically endangered by BirdLife International with an estimated population of fewer than fifty adult birds. Silvery pigeon sightings are a rarity and have never been spotted in large numbers, so calculating a specific number for population count is difficult. Reasons for the bird’s decline in population are unclear but can most likely be attributed to deforestation, especially the destruction of mangrove forests where the birds reside. Additionally, the introduction of new predators, like cats that become feral, threaten breeding rates. Other reasons include settlement, hunting, habitat loss with extensive clearance for logging, agriculture, and plantations, and poaching for illegal bird trades.

Please sign this petition to set conservation plans into motion and help silvery pigeons stabilize their declining population.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Zulkifli Hasan and Ir Darori,

The silvery pigeon of Indonesia is a beautiful species of pigeon that had lived many centuries undisturbed but now is teetering on the brink of extinction due to human interference. Habitat loss and poaching have dwindled the bird’s numbers at an alarming rate and plans to conserve this species need to be put into action immediately. Firstly, you must conduct surveys on islands that have documented sights of the bird to clarify its current distribution, population status, threats, and movements. Then you must develop a conservation strategy to protect the islands that provide the most support to the silvery pigeon’s breeding populations. Poachers and hunters also need to be discouraged from attacking these birds as well.

The population count on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is only an estimate due to the difficulty of spotting the species in the wild. The population may even be fewer than 50 individuals. This beautiful bird is running out of time. Please help protect them from extinction.